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BCHL Today: Joughin named POW, Express hire Shaw, Recchi commits to St. Thomas, and more!

Written by Brian Wiebe on

 

Joughin named BCHL player of the week

West Kelowna Warriors forward Marcus Joughin was named the BC Hockey League player of the week on Tuesday after posting two goals and eight assists in the team’s four games.

The 2001-born Tecumseh, Ontario product finished the pod season with six goals and 17 assists in 15 games with the Warriors. His 23 points were tops on West Kelowna and placed him 14th overall in BCHL scoring.

Waters suspended one game by BCHL DOPS

Nanaimo Clippers forward Brody Waters was suspended one game by the BC Hockey League Department of Player Safety on Wednesday for receiving an instigator penalty, a fighting major and game misconduct in Tuesday’s season finale against Alberni Valley.

The penalties were assessed at the 4:55 mark of the second period of the 5-4 shootout loss to the Bulldogs. Waters got into a scrap with Alberni Valley forward Finn Brown.

The 2002-born left wing had five goals and 10 points in 20 games as a rookie for the Clippers this season. Waters is eligible to return to Nanaimo’s line-up for the second game of the 2021-22 season.

BCHL successfully completes 2020-21 season

The BC Hockey League announced a summary of the 2020-21 pod season on Wednesday, including the five official pod champions.

During the six-week season, approximately 2,200 COVID-19 tests were administered to BCHL players and staff.  BCHLNetwork coverage of the league’s Wednesday announcement is here.

Express bring in Shaw as head coach and assistant general manager

The Coquitlam Express unveiled Brandon Shaw as the club’s new head coach and assistant general manager on Wednesday, signing him to a two-year contract through the 2022-23 season.

The 26-year-old has spent the last two seasons on the coaching staff of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. Before that, Shaw was an assistant coach with the Merritt Centennials.

He started his career in the BCHL as an Ontario scout for the Centennials in 2016-17. Shaw takes over from Adam Nugent-Hopkins, who was acting as Coquitlam’s interim coach.

BCHLNetwork coverage of Shaw’s hiring is available here.

Centennials let Sweet-Coulter go

The Merritt Centennials announced on Wednesday that the hockey club won’t renew the contract of general manager and head coach Derek Sweet-Coulter for the 2021-22 season.

Sweet-Coulter’s contract with the Cents was set to expire on May 31. He started in Merritt as an assistant coach and assistant GM to Barry Wolff to start the 2019-20 season.

He was promoted to interim head coach when the Centennials let Wolff go on Oct. 16, 2019, after getting off to a 2-9-0 start. One month later, the club removed the interim tag from Sweet-Coulter and he finished the season with a 12-31-1-3 record.

BCHLNetwork coverage of Sweet-Coulter’s firing is here.

Recchi commits to the University of St. Thomas

Salmon Arm Silverbacks forward Cameron Recchi took to Twitter on Wednesday to announce his commitment to the University of St. Thomas to play NCAA Division I hockey.

The 2001-born forward had five goals and 12 points in 20 games with the Silverbacks this season, which was sixth in scoring on the team.

Calverley named co-captain at RIT

Forward Will Calverley (35 goals, 61 assists in 111 games with Chilliwack from 2016-18) was announced on Wednesday as a co-captain for the Rochester Institute of Technology for the 2021-22 NCAA season.

The 22-year-old from Scarborough, Ontario has 32 goals and 64 points with the RIT Tigers over the last three seasons, including the last one as an alternate captain.

Stecher named to Team Canada for world championship

Defenseman Troy Stecher (18 goals, 91 assists in 159 games with Penticton from 2020-13) has been named a member of Team Canada for the upcoming IIHF World Championship in Latvia.

Stecher, 27, had three goals and 11 points in 44 games with the Detroit Red Wings this past season. The tournament runs from May 21 through June 1.

Festerling signs an extension with Grizzlys Wolfsburg

Forward Garrett Festerling (12 goals, 25 assists in 77 games with Vernon from 2002-04) has signed a contract extension for the 2021-22 season with the Grizzlys Wolfsburg of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.

The 35-year-old from Quesnel, BC has 21 goals and 54 points in his last two seasons with Wolfsburg. He has played 13 seasons in the DEL.

Bondra inks deal with Bratislava

Forward David Bondra (22 goals, 41 assists in 59 games with Chilliwack in 2011-12) has signed with the Bratislava Capitals of the ICE Hockey League for the 2021-22 season.

The 28-year-old, who was born in Annapolis, Maryland, had two points in 15 games with the Kunlun Red Star of the Kontinental Hockey League this past season before joining HC Kometa Brno of the Czech Extraliga.

He finished with four goals and six points in 30 games with Kometa Brno.

Perron-Fontaine parts ways with Nantes

Defenseman Alexandre Perron-Fontaine (six goals, 38 assists in 91 games with Chilliwack from 2011-13) won’t be back with Nantes of FFHG, Division 1, which is the second tier of pro hockey in France, for the 2021-22 season.

Perron-Fontaine, 28, combined for six goals and 31 points over the last two seasons with Nantes. He’s played the last four seasons in FFHG, Division 1.

Steffler extends contract with Klagenfurter

Defenseman Kele Steffler (no points in two games with Wenatchee in 2017-18) has signed a contract extension through 2021-22 with Klagenfurter AC in the ICE Hockey League.

Steffler, 22, had four assists in 46 games with Klagenfurter this past season. He also played one game with the Klagenfurter AC II club but didn’t get any points.